Film handling apparatus



July 30, 1935. w B og- AL 2,009,443

FILM HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed April 28, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS, WM M E0114 (Q34 2, 0012M, dq'oi.

J8 WW i. o nlDL ATTORNEY y 1935. w. D. FOSTER El AL FILM HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed April 28, 1926 5 sheets Sheet 2 July 30, 1935. w FOSTER r AL 2,009,443

FILM HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April 28, 1926 &

w awug +q ATTORNEY s tional strainson the film immediately to stop the the apparatus, in the event of film breakage.

' Patented July 30, 1935 ,m HANDLING APPARATUS Warren Dunham Foster, Washington Township, Bergen County, N. J., and Earle L. Pal-melee, deceased, late of Pittsburgh, Pa., by Peoples- Pittsburgh Trust Company, executor, Pittsburgh, Pa.; said Peoples-Pittsburgh Trust Company assignor to said Foster Orig nal application April-2 8, 1926, Serial No. 105,159. Divided and this application January ,12, 1934, swarm. 706,438

' 21 Claims. (01 88-17) The present invention relates generally .to film should the film break during its rewindinghandling apparatus and more particularly to movement? 1 power driven motionpicture apparatus. In carrying out the present invention, we may This application is a division from' the co; provide light responsive means on the side of pending application Serial Number 105,159, filed the film opposite an electric light and provide April 28, 1926 now Patent Number 1,944,024. means adjace t t e light p for deflecting It is very desirable during the operation of portion of the light passed through the film to power driven motion picture, apparatus immedithe lig t responsive meansately to extinguish the light and stop the motor A electricallyoperated means under control of the should the film break. Such actions regarding light r p v m ans which a e effective o st p the light and the motor are importantsafeguards the motor upon t a uation of t light p against igniting the film by the heat of the light, sive means by the increase in light which it will and further damage to the film by. its movement receive should the film break. Means forreducby the motor after the breakage-occurs. For exing the amount of current reaching the light to amplejshould the rupture occur on the take-up any desired extent are actuated concomitantly side of the film, the mm in the gate would be left w h the pp 0f the mOtOrthere under the severe heat of the usual light Int e drawings! I sourc'eand a fire almost certainly result. Figure 1 he side elevation of a motion picture It has been proposed in connection with the operation of motionpicture apparatus to provide means having parts movable directly by the film for extinguishing the lightand stopping the motor should the mm be broken during the feed-i ing movement of the film. The operation of such means usuallyimposes additional strains on the film and therefore often causes a material increase in the strains which actually break .the film.

It is an object of the present invention toprovide means in a motor driven filinhandling apparatus which is operative'without imposing addii illustrative purposes. In this view, certain parts of the lamp housing are shown broken-away.

how.light from the lamp of the projector actuates a photo-electric cell and controls the stopping of the motor and extinguishmentof the light.

Figure 3 is a schematic elevational view partly broken away illustrating a centrifugal switch device on the motor shaft. k

Figures 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views'of control mechanism which is actuated upon the stopping the motor for controlling the light source.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatid view illustrating means for increasing the resistance in the circuit of the electric lamp.

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram. The apparatus illustrated in the present invention is mounted in part on an upright mounting plate or frameF, suppor ed on a base 3. r A delivery spindle 2 and a take-up spindle -3 are mounted in the frame F and maybe operatively connected to an electric motor M by means such as are disclosed in our parent application. These connecting means need not be described in detail herein since their details are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention. The film f is drawn from a reel mounted on the.deliveryspindle 2'having a guide member H, to be described further hereinafter, and thence through a gate structure which includes a fixed section I! and a-movable section l3, these sections defining a film path past an aperture I 4.

motor if the film breaks. "It is another object of the invention to provide means in a motion picture projector which is operative without imposl ing additional strain on the film to extinguish the light and to stop the-film moving means if the film breaks. An additional object of the present invention is to provide a system of controlresponsive to variations in the character or intensity of the light for effecting cessation of operation of Motion picture apparatus has been proposed which has means for rewinding the film in the same apparatus in which-it has been exposed. In certain types of such apparatus the film may be f moved continuously at a much higher rate of speed for rewinding purposes than when it is being fed intermittently. During such rewinding movement the film passes along a path which intersects the light path. It is another object of the present invention to provide meansinapower After passing through the gate, the film f is driven motion picture projector for immediately brought into engagement with an intermittent extinguishing the light and stopping the-motor sprocket l5 which maybedrivenly connected with Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating- We also may provide projector to which our invention is applied for a are disclosed in film holder I! which may be constructed as dis closed in the United States Patent Number 1,440,173,granted to Ponting and Ford December 26,1922, or-other types of magazines or conventional open. reels may be used. The guiding,

members II and I6 are carried by resiliently mounted arms l8 and I9 respectively,'.which may be constructed as disclosedin our parent application for operation according to the teaching of the co-pending application which has resulted in the United States Patent Number 1,944,022, grantedto Bundick and Proctor on'January 16, 1934. An electric lamp L ofa well known'kind may be mounted in the lamp house H and means including a reflector R and a condensing lens CL operate to direct the strong beam of light on the film at the aperture l4 during normal pro jection of pictures from the film.

While the film f is being. moved by the above mentioned feeding means at normal speed there is no danger of the film being damaged or set on fire by the heat of the lamp house. However;

should the film be stopped at the aperture for v only a short period of time, there will be danger of the film, which is usually made of cellulose nitrate, catching fire. Should a slow burning or cellulose acetate film be employed, there probably will be no fire, but the film will disintegrate into a gummy mass, which is diificult to remove from the. gate.

To extinguish the light of -the lamp L and also stop the motor upon the breakage of the film, we may employ means illustrated diagrammati cally in Figure. 2. In this view, one circuit is shown operable in the-event of film breakage for automatically opening the motor circuit and also for producing an audible signal. In Figure 2' there is illustrated a mirror m which, during normal film operation, is positioned relative to ways to be activated only by reflected light of a certain brilliancy such as would reach the mirror m upon breakage of the film. This element is connected in series through a source of current 2| with a relay 22, whereby in the event'of concentration of light on the element 20 the relay will be energized and will attract its armature 23 against the action of the spring 24. This movement of the armature will be effective for opening the motor circuit, as can be seen by inspection of Figure2, and at the same time will i be eifective for closing the circuit which includes a sound producing signal device illustrated as an electric bell S'. If desired, the mirror m may be positioned'rin such manner that normally it receives a'relatively small amount of light during operation while the film is intact or'un for changing the resistance of the light sensitive element 20 for obtaining relay operations as before set forth. As is well known to those skilled in the art, a f motion picture film which breaks during a feeding operation in apparatus of the kind disclosed in the present application which uses no loop of unsupported slack and only one toothed feed.- ing member disposed between the gate and the take-up reel is usually broken when, a torn, patched, or otherwise weakened portion. of the film is passing betweenthe usual gate sections l2 and i3, These sections ofier more resistance to. the passage of such weakened portion through the apparatus than any other film engaging parts. l5 Whilepthe film is being rewound thg$ate is maintained fully open by the means escribed in our parent applicatiomnow Patent 1,944,024.

During the rewinding of the film, should it break between the gate and the take-up reel, the rewinding reel will'be operative to remove the film from across the light path at .the aperture and permit the light to actuate the photo-electric cell and render eifecti've the motor stopping means. Should the filmbreak between the gate' 25 and the rewinding reel, the weight of the unwound film between the point of the break and the take-up. reel will usually be effective -to cause the film to fall clear of the gate.

' ,It can be readily seen by those skilled in motion pictureapparatus that, as shown for example in Figure 7, if desired the lamp L-rnay be connected in a well known way in circuit with the motor M and when the relay 22 opens the circuit of the motor M and stops it, the ,relaywill also -as viewed in Figure 3, by a compression spring the lamp L and the film for normally receiving 33. Movement of the disc 32 in the opposite direction is efiected by centrifugally' operated means of well known construction which may include two weights 34. carried on the ends of 5;) arms 35 pivotally mounted on a collarmmber 36. The arms 35 may be shaped as shown in\ Figure 3' and in the opposite end of each arm 35 from the weight 34 is mounted a roller 31 which bears against the disc 32. By reason of this con-' 'struction, so long as rotation of the shaft 3| continues; the disc 32 will be moved to the right in opposition'to the spring 33 and out of engagement with contacts 38 and 39. In'the event that the shaft ce'ases rotation, thedisc will move C3 to the left andestablish a circuit through the solenoid 40, as will be apparent from the drawings, thereby automatically eifecting predetermined movements of parts of a control mechanism described hereinafter.

For protectingthe film at the aperture when the film is not movinga shield S is mounted on a vertical shaft 4| which extends downwardly through the top of the base B. An operative connection between the solenoid 40 and the rock shaft 4| is provided and may include a disc 42 mounted-ona pin 43 secured in the base B andextending downwardly therefrom. Fastened to the disc 42 to revolve therewith is a pinion 44 which engages with rack teeth 45 in a connecting member 45 to be further described hereinafter. LA lever device for cooperation with the disc 42 is provided and includes a lever 41 pivoted on the lower/ end of a rotatable rod 48 extending upwardly through the top of the, base B. Slidably mounted on the lever 41 by means of slots50 and screws 5| is a second lever member 52 which has its lower end (as viewed in Figure 4) pivotally mounted a shoulder screw 55'which has an end' portion arranged for engaging in a crosswise slot 55 provided in the lever 52. A connection between the shoulder scr'ew55 and the rock shaft 4I includes a lever 51 pivoted on a screw 58 in the base B. This lever 51 has an elongated slot 55' arranged for engaging the shoulder screw 55. To the opposite end of the lever 51 from the slot 55 is connected one end of a link 59 and the other end of this link is connected to an arm 60 fas- 'tened on the rock shaft 4I.

It can therefore be seen by inspection of Fig- I ures 4 and 5 that clockwise movement of the disc 42 as shown in Figure 4 will be effective for moving the lever 51 angularly in a clockwise direction and thusrotate the rock shaft 4I sufficiently .for moving the shield S to operative position across the light path and thus protect the film 'from the light when the film ceases to move wing to stopping of the motor by the above described means when the film breaks.

For moving the disc v42 in a clockwise direction so as to operate the shield S upon the cnergization of the solenoid 40, the cross bar is mounted for lengthwise movement in strapsGI, and to one ,iend of the cross bar is fastened a transverse member 52 which extends adjacent the solenoid 40. The core 40 of the solenoid 40 is connected to the transverse member 62. In normal operat 1 ing position of the apparatus, the disc 42' is held "in the Figure 5 position by a spring 63, arranged- -as shown in Figure 5, a'slot 54 in the disc 42 and a pin 65 operating in the disc. The disc-may be the shutter. is operated as described above. solenoid 51 oppositely disposed to the solenoid 65 moved to the Figure 4 position either by using means disclosed in our parent application or by energizing a solenoid 06 the core of which is connected to the right'end of the bar, as viewed in Figure 4. In the filmfeeding position of the apparatus, the disc- 42 and the core of the solenoid 40 are so positioned (see Figure-i) that upon the energizing of the solenoid in the way de scribed above when the motor stops the disc 42 is revolved a predetenninedamount clockwise and A Should the film break during rewinding operations, the energization of the solenoid 40 would be effected by the means described above and the shield S. would be moved to film protecting positionif not already disposed therein .by means such as are shown lnour parent application.

' For controlling the speed of the movement of.

the apparatus upon the energizing of the solenoids 40, and 01, there may be provided a dash .pot device generally designated as 10 which may be constructed as is set forth in our parent application.

Instead of operating the shield Supon the stopping'of the motor M, additional resistance 1I may be cut into the circuit 12 of a source of electricity 13 connected with the lamp L. This result may be obtained as shown in Figure 6 by employing the lever 51 asa wiper arm to cut in the additional resistance 1-I upon the energizing of the solenoid 40 when the film breaks. It, will be understood by those skilled in electric circuits that the resistance may be such as substan tially to extinguish the lamp L if desired. I Certain parts shown-in Figure, 1, such as the knob I00, for normally operating the control mechanism, the shutter IN on a shaft I02, an objective lens I03, a film stripper I04, a fixed lamp resistance I05, a lamp support I06, a lens support I01, and a lamp house cone I08, may be constructed as described in our parent case for cooperation with the other parts of the apparatus described hereinbefore.

It can be readily seen by, those skilled in the 'art that the means disclosed hereinbefore for controlling the motor and the usual light source 4 upon the breakage of the film may be actuated by light auxiliary to that used for projection purposes, as shown in one exemplification for purposes of illustration only, in Figure 2, positioned if desired, for coaction with a photo-electric cell placed at any convenient point on-the opposite side of the film.

In several of the attached claims as a matter of brevity and convenience, the expression photoelectric cell has been used. This phrase is to be it is actuated by rela,

appear from the foregoing part of the speclfication. Other advantages arise from the provision of an inexpenslve positive means for safeguarding the film against further damage by the lamp or the motor in case the film breaks.

Other advantages arise from the use of a control mechanism normally under control of the film as it is being operatively moved through the apparatus to operate safety devices even when the film is broken and can no longer be operatively moved. f I I J We claim: v 1. In a film handling apparatus, a source of light, an aperture, means for feeding a film past said aperture, a motor for driving said feeding means, means operable for stopping said motor, and light responsive means normally inoperable by light passed from said source through the film,

said light responsive means becoming operative for actuating said stopping means upon the breaking of the film as it is fed through said ap-.

paratus and the removal thereafter of the film from across the path of said light by said feeding means.

1, I 2. In a film handling apparatus, a source of light, an aperture, means for feeding a film past said ,aperture, a motor for driving said feeding ,means, means operable for stopping said motor,

light responsive means normally inoperable by light fig? said source through the'film; and operable the breaking of the film asfit is fed through said aperture and its removal thereafter from actuating said stoppimg means, upon said second member to said first member for rethe opposite side of the film from said light for actuating said stopping means only upon receiving, light directly from said source when the film ,is moved from between saidlight source and said light responsive means.

4. In a fihn handling apparatus, a source of light, mechanism for operatively moving an image-bearing film through said apparatus, the images on said film changing the strength of v the light rays which pass through the film, a motor for driving said film moving mechanism, a circuit for said motor, means for opening said circult, and light responsive means for actuating said circuit opening means, said light responsive means being positioned in said apparatus on the opposite side of the film from said light source for receiving an actuating amount of light from said source only upon the breakage of the film and its removal thereafter by said moving mechanism.

5. In a film handling apparatus, a delivery member, a taking up member, means for feeding a film from said delivery member to said taking up member, an aperture, a source of electric light for cooperation with said aperture including a circuit, a motor for driving said feeding means, an electric circuit for said motor, means for breaking said motor circuit for stopping said motor, and means responsive only to light passed .directly thereto through said aperture upon the breakage or the film and its removal from the path of the light from said source for actuating said circuit breaking means thereby stopping said motor.

'6. In a film handling apparatus, a first film supporting member, a, second film supporting member, said supporting membersbeing arranged to permit a film being moved between them,

means for intermittently moving a film from said first member'to said second member for projection purposes, means for moving the film from winding the film, a motor for driving both of said moving means, a source of light, and means responsive only to light from said source for stopping said motor upon the breakage of the film and its removal from the path of the light from said source, said light responsive means being inoperable by light from said source passed through the moving film irrespective of the direction of movement of the film.

7. In a film handling apparatus, a source of light, afirst film su'pportingmember, a second film and its subsequent removal from the path of the light from said source, said means including a photo-electric cell positioned on the opposite side of the film from said light, and arranged to be inoperable by light from said source passed through the moving film irrespective of the direc- -tion of movement ofsaid film throughsa id appa-. ratus.

8. In a film handling apparatus, a source of light, an aperture, means for feeding a film past said aperture, a motor for driving said feeding means, means operable for stopping said motor, means operable for producing an audible signal, and means controlled by light from said source passing through said aperture, said last named means becomingo'perative only upon the breaking of the film'as it is fed through said apparatus and its removal from the path of said light for actuating said stopping means and said'signalsounding means. I A

9. In a film handling apparatus, a source of light, mechanism for operatively moving an image-bearing film through said apparatus, a

motor for driving said film moving mechanism,

electric means for producing an audible signal, a normally closed circuit for said motor, a normally open circuit for said signal producing means, circuit operating means for opening said motor circuit and concomitantly closing said signal circuit, and light responsive means for actuating said circuit operating means, said light responsive means being positioned in said apparatus on the opposite" side of the-film from said light source for receiving an activating amount of light from said source only upon the breakage of the film and its removal from the path of the light from saidsource.

10. In a, motion picture apparatus having means for projecting a film which is injured by excessive heat, an electric lamp for passing light controlling means, said last named means being inoperable by light from said source passed through said film while-the same is being moved past said source.

- 11. In a motion picture apparatus, an aper- 'tured member, means for feeding a film past the aperture-of said member, an electric lamp for passing light through the film at said aperture, a circuit for said lamp, means for increasing the the path of said light for actuating said circuit resistance in said circuit, and means responsive to direct light from said lamp passed through [said aperture following the breakage of the film and its removal from the path of said light at said aperture for actuating said resistance increasing means, said actuating means being unaffected by light passed through the film while it is being fed past said aperture. 7 Q

12. In a film handling apparatus, a source of light, mechanism for operatively moving the film through said apparatus and across the path of said light, a motor for driving said film moving mechanism, a circuit for said motor, means for opening said circuit, light responsive means for actuating said circuit opening means, said last named means including a photo-electric cell, said light source directing light through said film to said cell, an electric circuit havingsaid cell as an element thereof, an electro magnet in said cell circuit, an armature member movable by said electromagnet, said armature member constituting an element of said motor circuit, said cell being actuated by said light only 10 for closing said sound circuit, light responsive means for actuating both said circuit operating means simultaneously, said last named means including a photo-electric cell, means for passing light through said' film to said cell said light passed through said film bein'gineifective to actuate said cell, an electric circuit having said cell as an element thereof, an electromagnet in said cell circuit; and an armature member movable by said electromagnet, said armature member constituting an element of both said motor circuit and said sound circuit, whereby uponmovemerit of said armature member a warning sound is automatically produced and said motor is automatically stopped upon the breakage and removal of the film from said path, said cell being actuated by light reaching it from said source without passing through the film,

14. In a film handling apparatus having a source of electric light and means for moving said film past said light source, in combination, a motor for driving said film moving means, re-

sistance connectible in the circuit of said light source, means for connecting said resistance in said circuit, means for actuating said connecting means uponthe stopping of said motor, and means for stopping said motor, said stopping means including a light responsive device disposed on the opposite side" of the film from said light source ,and actuable by light from 'said source during the operation of said apparatus by, said motor only upon the breakage of said film and its consequent removal from between said light source and said light responsive device.

15. In a film handling apparatus having a source of electric light and means for moving an image-bearing film past said light source, in combination, a motor for driving said film moving means, resistance connectible in the circuit of said light source, means for connectingsaid resistance in said circuit positioned on the opposite side of the film from said light source, means for actuating said connecting means upon the stopping of the motor, light responsive means operated by the breakage of the filmv and its consequent removal from between said light source and said light responsive device for stopplug said motor, and means for operating a signal,

upon the stopping of said motor.

16. In a motion picture apparatus, an aperture, means for feeding a filmpast said aperture,

a source of light arranged for cooperation with said aperture for projecting pictures 'from the film disposed at said aperture, amotor for driving said feeding .means, means operable for stopping said motor, means for actuating said motor stopping means upon the breaking of the film as it is fed past said aperture, said actuating means including a light responsive devicepositioned on the opposite side of the film from said light source, and constructed to become operative only, upon the breaking of the film and its removal by said feeding means from between said light source and said light responsive device, and an-operative connection between said motor and said light becoming'efiective upon the stopping of said motor for extinguishing said light.

17. In a film handling apparatus, a source of electric light, mechanism for operatively moving an image-bearing, light-diminishing film through said apparatus, across the path of light from said source, a. 7 motor for driving said mechanism, means for stopping said motor, means operable upon the stoppage of said motor for controlling the circuit of said light source, and light responsive means disposed on the opposite'side of the film from said light source and effective for actuating said stopping means only upon receiving undiminished light from said source upon the breaking of the film and the removal of the same from the path of said light.

18. In a film handling apparatus, means for feeding a film past said aperture, a source of electric light for projecting pictures from said film -at said aperture, a motor for driving said feeding means, a circuit for said motor,- a relay in said circuit, a photo-electric cell connected in said circuit and disposed on one side of said film removal of said film from the path of said light source by said feeding means for actuating said relay and opening said motor circuit.

19, In a motion picture apparatus employing a fragile film which is injured by excessive heat, a delivery carrier, a take-up carrier, meansfor defining a path of travel for said film from said delivery carrier to said take-up carrier, means for feeding said film intermittently along said path of travel, a lamp arranged for passing light through said film at a point between said takeup carrier and the place alongsaid film path where said fihn is normally subjected to the greatest s'train tending to break the same, control means for said apparatus, and means for actuating said control means, said actuating means including a photo-electric cell positioned on the opposite side of said film path from said lamp, said cell being constructed to become operative by light from said lamp when said film breaks and is removed from between said light and said film, said cell remaining inoperative by light reaching it from said lamp which has passed through'said film.

20.. In a motion picture apparatus employing a. fragile film which is injured by excessive heat, a delivery carrier, a take-up carrier, means for defining a path of travel for said film from said delivery carrier to said take-up carrier, means for moving said film along said path of travel alternatively in each direction, a lamp arranged for passing light through said film at a point between said take-up carrier and the place along said film path where said film is normally subjected to the greatest strain tending to break said film, control means for said apparatus, and means for actuating said control means, said actuating mens including a photo-electric cell positioned on the opposite side of said film path from said lamp,

21. In a film handling apparatus, a source of 'electriclight, mechanism for operatively moving an imagbbearingfilm through said apparatus,

a motor for driving said mechanism, means opv erable for stopping said motor, means operable upon the stoppage of said motonfor controlling the circuit of said. light source for substantially extmguishing said light, and means for actuating said motor stopping means upon a predetermined increase in the light passed through the plane of said film from said source of light, said last named" means including a light responsive device io'sitioned upon the opposite side of the plane of said A l i l E 'frombetween said light source and said light responsive device.

' WARREN DUNI-IIYAMFOSTER.

PEOPLES-PITTSBURGH TRUST COMPANY,

Executor ofWill of Earle L. larmeleaDeceased,

By GWILYMfALPRICE; r Y 1 a Vice President and Trust Ojficer. 

